offroad plumber
New member
I have a 2003 f150 4.6l 4x4 with auto tranny and manual t-case. I got stuck yesterday when out in the snow and found out that the front axle was not engaging. The transfer case is working. I had tire chains which I had to put on to get out.
I did some basic trouble shooting when I got home and found that the vacuum solenoid a behind battery were getting -91 in/wc of vacuum. The 4wd solenoid was opening allowing vacuum to pass on to the front axle but the 2wd actuator was not opening.
My question is this. Would the bad 2wd actuator cause problems with the 4wd not engaging or would the front end always be locked in 4wd without torque from the engine? My thinking is that the 4wd should engage easily but not disengage. Is this correct? Could the front end have been locked and broken something in the axle itself? What are your thoughts? I live in the mountains and need 4wd just to get in and out of my neighborhood when it snows so the truck is useless without it.
I did some basic trouble shooting when I got home and found that the vacuum solenoid a behind battery were getting -91 in/wc of vacuum. The 4wd solenoid was opening allowing vacuum to pass on to the front axle but the 2wd actuator was not opening.
My question is this. Would the bad 2wd actuator cause problems with the 4wd not engaging or would the front end always be locked in 4wd without torque from the engine? My thinking is that the 4wd should engage easily but not disengage. Is this correct? Could the front end have been locked and broken something in the axle itself? What are your thoughts? I live in the mountains and need 4wd just to get in and out of my neighborhood when it snows so the truck is useless without it.